Today is the 25th anniversary of the murder of 16 children and their teacher at Dunblane primary school, Scotland. The five and six year olds were all killed by a local young man with an automatic gun. After murdering the children and injuring many others he killed himself.
The bereaved parents went on to campaign to have privately owned guns banned in the UK. The 'Snowdrop Campaign' so called because snowdrops were the only flowers in bloom when the massacre happened went on to secure a change in the UK gun laws. Thanks to the 'Snowdrop Campaign' we now have some of the strictest gun laws in the world.
{;-O)
ReplyDeleteMm. I remember that massacre.... as a further "did you know?" fact, tennis player Andy Murray was one of those children hiding under tables......
ReplyDeleteAndy and his older brother Jamie were at the school but they were older and were in other classes although they did know the murderer.
ReplyDeleteI remember that happening and the campaign to ban guns though with all the shootings still going on you have to wonder if it worked
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember hearing about that shooting among all the others. I didn't realize it was all young children. How sad. I will see what more I can find out about why the shooter did it. :-(
ReplyDeleteP.S. I just read about it and have added tears to the memory of those beautiful children.
ReplyDeleteSome good came from the loss of young lives, but what a high price.
ReplyDeleteJust terrible to even think about. I wish we in the states could learn from our tragedies but we don't seem to. So glad that the UK did learn and acted. A model for all.
ReplyDeleteNoone will ever forget the 1996 massacre... the only difference was how the citizens and nation responded. I cannot imagine a civilised democracy allowing guns in private hands... and thank goodness, the bans were indeed put in place.
ReplyDeleteBut how can the parents and grandparents ever be consoled?
We saw the memorials when we stayed in Dunblane in 2017. I am so disappointed that after so many of those "massacres" here in US we still can't have sensible gun laws. Glad to hear UK did something sensible.
ReplyDeleteI do remember that massacre.
ReplyDeleteI remember when that was in the news and, as a teacher, feeling so bad about it. Wonderful that it inspired your country to legislate gun control to keep school children safe. I can’t believe that was 25 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI remember the event but wasn't aware, until seeing a piece about the anniversary about the Snowdrop Campaign.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you. Joining in with your other commenters in sorrow and in wishing the US could get our act together on the gun control issue. We have had too many “opportunities” to see how much it is needed.
ReplyDeleteI remember the 1996 massacre....It sent messages to control the guns to all over the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you to remind all us ....